Clinch-on nut



Feb. 7, 1939. J. QLDHAM 2,146,128

CLINCH-ON NUT Filed May 27, 1958 2 Sheets-Shee t 1 INVENTOR. Job/2 M Old/7 am ATTORNEYJ J. Mv OLDHAM Feb. 7, 1939.

CLINCH-ON NUT Filed May 27, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR.

y W ATTORNEYJ Patented Feb. 7, 1939 UNITED 'STATESPATENT OFFICE CLINCH-ON NUT John M. Oldham, Pleasant Ridge, Mich, assignor to L. A. Young, Detroit, Mich.

Application May 2'1, 1938, Serial No. 210,322

7 Claims.

This invention relates to threaded clinch-on nuts and has particularly to do with that type of nut which is formed entirely of. sheet metal, by drawing and tapping a portion thereof and providing the same with a flange.

This type of nut is generally old but in-the past it has been customary to form the holes through which the threaded portion of the nut is inserted,

with a square or D-shaped configuration to prevent the nut from turning in the hole.

An object of the present invention is to provide a clinch-on nut which may be readily used in a round hole and which is so arranged that when inserted in its place, it will notturn in the hole.

This result may be accomplished by reason of the unusual design of the nut.

Other objects and features of the invention having to do with details of design and fabrica- Fig. 2 is a plan view of the nut in the process of its manufacture.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the nut showing-a second stage in the manufacture.

Figs. 4 and 5 are sections taken on the lines 4-4 and 5-5 of Figs. 2 and 3, respectively.

0d of distorting the nut and Fig. 6 is a cross section of the nut in clinched position.

Fig..7 is a plan view of the nut in its operative position.

Fig. 8 is asection taken on the lines 8-8 of Fig.

Fig. 9 is a section taken on the lines 9-4 of Fig. 3 and illustrates a punch about to strike the nut into the locked in position.

Figs. 10 and 11 are additional steps in the meththe sheet metal to lock it into position.

Fig. 12 is a section taken Fig. 13 showing the final position or the punch.

Fig. 13 is a plan view, of a modified lock nut proclinch-on nut contemplated by the present inven-- tion is the type formed from a piece of sheet metal, a portion of the metal being gradually extruded by a drawing process to form the central on the line I2l2 ofportion I2 of the nut which is tapped to receive the threaded shank of a screw. A circular flange I3 is formed radially of the central portion l2. In the drawings the flange is formed at the base of the threaded portion of the nut though it need not necessarily be formed at this point. After the circular flange is formed, it is provided with slits II which permit lugs i5 to be struck from the flange parallel to the central portion i2. This leaves segmental portions l6 extending radially 10 from the portion i2to form the base of the nut, slots being formed of course, between the portions In inserting the nut into position, the central tapped portion I2 and the lugs l5 are passed up 15 through the aperture H as shown particularly in Figs. 1 and 5. The .lugs l5 are then bent over the margin of the aperture and pressed down toward the base members I6 with a sufficient force that the margin of the aperture l I will be distorted, as shown at I! in Figs. 6 and 8. The margin of the aperture l i is thereby corrugated in such a manner that there will be no possibility of the nut turning in the hole.

It will be understood that if it is found desirable,- the lugs i5'may be struck away from the central drawn or extruded portion l2 rather than toward it. Both modifications are within the scope v of the present invention.

The particular feature of the invention which 80 permits the positioning of the clinch-on nut in the apertures so that it will not rotate therein, rests in the design of the flange formed in the nut. Referring to Fig. 8, for example, it will be seen that as the lug i5 is pressed down toward the 85 base member IS, a shearing force is exerted on the plate It at the points [8. This shearing-force causes the distortion of the metal into the slots from which the lugs have been struck. The margin of the aperture is thus corrugated. 40

In Figs. 9 to 12 and 14 I have shown views of a punch 20 which may be used to distort the lugs iii of the nut and also the sheet metal in which the nut is to be locked. It will be seen that the punch 20 is' provided with an annular tapered portion 2| surrounding a central aperture 22 which is adapted to'receive the central-portion I 2 or thenut. I

Figs. 9, l0 and 11 have been takenon the lines 99 of Fig. 3 to more clearly illustrate the forming operation. Referring to Fig. 10, it will be seen that as the punch 20 comes down on the nut, the top portions-l5 of the lugs l5 are bent outwardly by the annularly tapered ring- 2i As the punch proceeds downward, as shown for example in Fig. 11, the portion l5a is subjected to a rivet- 5g position yhereby the lugs i are contacting the topsuriace of the sheet metal I0, but have not yet distorted it. Support is, of course, furnished to the base portions l6 of the nut so that, as the punch 20 is forced further downward, the portions ll of the sheet. metal are distorted aspreviously described. See, for example, Fig. 8. .The

- resulting nut is, as shown in Fig. 13, wherein with the riveted or upset lugs i5, firmly held in place .in the round aperture.

., drawn portion inwardly tapped to receive a By this upsetting or crushing action shown in Figs. 9 and 12, I have avoided the spring up of the lugs after. they are pressed downward. Consequently, the nut is always firmly held in position and cannot rattle.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with a circularly apertured metal sheet, a clinch-on nut comprising a central drawn sleeve portion passed through the aperture and inwardly tapped to receive a screw, a radially extending flange on said drawn portion, and circumferentially spaced lugs struck from said flange and passing through said aperture, said lugs being bent over the margins of said aperture and pressed down toward said flange whereby to distort the metal forming the margin of said aperture to render the nut non-rotatable in said aperture. 1 v r 2. A sheet metal nut formed from a piece of sheet metal comprising a central drawn sleeve portion tapped for receiving a screw and adapted to be passed through a circular aperture in a sheet of metal, a flange on said drawn portion adapted to contactwith one side of said sheet of metal, spaced lugs struck out of said flange portion and extending through said aperture in said sheet metal, said lugs being adapted to be distorted toward said flange whereby to distort and sink into the margins of the sheet metal surrounding said aperture to prevent the nut from turning therein.

3. In combination with a circularly apertured metal sheet, a clinch-on nut comprising a central screw, 'a radially extending flange on said. drawn portion, and spaced lugs struck from said flange and passing through said aperture, said lugs beingcrushed toward said flange whereby a portion of each lug overlaps and sinks into the margin of said aperture to render the nut'immovable said lugs are distorted to render the nut immovauama g4. In combination with an aperturedmetal sheet, a clinch-on nut comprising a central drawn portion inwardly tapped to receive a screw, a radially extending flange on said drawn portion, and spaced lugs struck ironusaid flange and passing through said aperture, said lugs being crushed toward said flange whereby a portion of each lug overlaps the margin of said aperture, the portion of said margin underlying each of said lugs being distorted into apertures in'said flange formed by the striking out of the lugs.

5. In combination, a sheet metal piece having an aperture, and a clinch-on nut comprising an extruded portion tapped to receive a screw, a

radially extending flange on said central portion contacting said sheet metal, circumferentially spaced lugs struck from said flange forming radially extending notches therein, said lugs being passed through said aperture, bent over the margin thereof, and pressed toward said flange whereby portions of said sheet metal are distorted into said notches to render said nut immovable in said aperture.

6. In combination, a sheet metal piece having an aperture, and a clinch-on nut comprising a drawn portion tapped to receive a screw,,a radially extending flange on said central portion contacting said sheet metal, circumferentially spaced lugs struck from said flange forming radially extending notches therein, said lugs being passed through said apert re, bent over the margin thereof, and pressed oward said flange whereby portions of said sheet metal are distorted into said notches, said lugs serving as clamping means to grip the margin of said aperture in cooperation with said-flange.

7. In combination, a sheet metal piece having a round aperture, and a clinch-on nut comprising a drawn portion tapped to receive a screw, and extending through said aperture, a radially extending flange on said central portion contacting one side of said sheet metal around said aperture, spaced lugs struck from said flange and passing through said aperture around said central portion, said lugs being bent over the margin of said aperture and toward said flange whereby the portions of sheet metal lying directly underable.

JOHN M. OLDHAM. 

